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Dams Serve a Purpose by Matthew Malcom The Columbian, August 21, 2022

The dams get blamed for decreased salmon runs
and many dams are in the crosshairs for removal.

The Marine Mammals Protection Act was passed 50 years ago and many of these protectees have flourished. The dams get blamed for decreased salmon runs and many dams are in the crosshairs for removal. My first question is to the assertion it's the dams' fault: Why are rivers without dams or below dams experiencing decreased fish runs?

Snake River dam removal enthusiasts are high on trapped sediment that they've claimed will make a 1,000-mile trek and three right turns against the Alaskan current to feed the South Puget Sound orcas. My question here is that during a time of war (Russia vs. Ukraine) threatening the world's food supply, should we even be entertaining the loss of irrigation, farmland and green electricity as provided by Snake and Columbia River dams?

If removalist logic is solid, then it should be tried where there's a substantial population. Why not try removing the dams forming Lacamas Lake or Lake Oswego and deprive at least a couple lawyers of their fabulous lake view? Or, why not hit the flood-control abilities of dams protecting Seattle, Portland and Vancouver? A good flood might remove the 17 feet of coal dust currently blanketing Washougal as predicted by the opponents of shipping coal by rail.